This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Phantom: All The Pretty Little Things

Without the costumes and fancy makeup, a theatrical production such as Emmaus High School's "Phantom of the Opera" might not be so theatrical.

It is “Tech Week” for Emmaus High School’s “Phantom of the Opera”, and that means the clock is counting down. With less than one week to go before the heavy curtains swing open, the cast and crew are gearing up to reveal what’s sure to be a production beyond anyone’s expectations.

One of the most visibly noticeable facets of a performance such as “Phantom” is the costuming and makeup.

During “Phantom”, over 250 costumes will be seen throughout the performance. The costume crew, another essential component of the production process, consists of 10 students.

Find out what's happening in Emmauswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Behind the scenes, sewing machines have been running, sequins have been hand-sewn, flowers have been transformed into fancy hair decorations, and wigs have been ordered.

Masquerade masks also have been hand-labeled for the entire cast, indicating which mask belongs to which cast member – over 60 in total. The details behind this element of the production are staggering.

Find out what's happening in Emmauswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parent volunteers add an interesting element to the costume crew and jokingly call themselves the “Drama Mamas”. Linda Hanna, Lori Ross, Lori Young and Elizabeth McGee are a handful of the volunteers who have worked with students in the costume crew.  

These women have committed their afternoons, evenings and weekends to creating and assembling costumes and accessories for the complete cast. Their work began in December when auditions started.

“When everyone auditioned, we measured everyone completely so that, no matter what, we had all of their measurements,” Hanna explained.  

A wall of plastic totes behind the stage contains costumes and props from previous EHS plays and productions. The costume crew first sorts through the existing items to determine what can be re-used.  

Ross added, “Everything’s on a budget, so anything we can use to save money is a big help!”

Ross is also known as the “Crew Nurse”. As might be expected, accidents occasionally happen on set or behind the scenes. As a professional nurse, Ross is quick to respond to any injuries that occur. Fortunately, nothing serious has happened.

For the first time, EHS theater director Jill Kuebler has chosen to rent the lead actors’ costumes from a location in upstate New York. They are a close resemblance to those used in the Broadway version of “Phantom” and are sure to be stunning. Several of the costumes for the 15 “Phantom” dancers have also been rented from an outside source.

C.E. Roth is generously donating 18 tuxes, shoes and all accessories for the men of the cast to wear during the masquerade scene. Every little bit counts.

During a production such as this, it’s not just about the acting and singing. Costumes and makeup play a critical role in conveying a feeling, a mood for each scene. In order to effectively produce a show of this grand scale, costume changes are a necessity.

Jen Pytlewski, one of the lead actresses playing the part of “Christine” will endure nine costume changes throughout the show. The Phantom, Wesly Clerge, will complete five. The ensemble, which consists of over 50 cast members, will change four times by the end of the musical. That process alone is a huge feat.

Nikki Khanna, one of the lead members of the costume crew, said the quick changes between scenes are always stressful on both the changer and the actor.  

The actor is focused on his or her next cue, whereas the changer is focused on making sure the actor looks the way he or she should. Because the quick changes have to be done behind stage, it's extremely dark, crowded, and it is crucial to be quiet. This puts extra strain on the changer. Instead of it coming off as negative stress, Khanna thinks it really helps to assure that everyone is working their fastest and to their best ability.  

According to Khanna, not only are there costume changes, there are makeup changes as well.  “Off the top of my head, I know Madame Giry must go from her normal look to a white face for Il Muto, then back to her normal look in only a couple of minutes.”  

Most make-up is retouched during intermission, but lipstick is usually retouched whenever the actors have free time. The costume crew usually does the costume changes. Khanna typically handles the make-up aspect.  Although she has no professional training in cosmetology, she enjoys doing it. By utilizing Broadway programs as a model, Khanna is capable of capturing professional results.

Khanna added, “I always say, without costumes, makeup, lights, sounds, and the set, the cast is just reading a book. The crew makes the show come to life!”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Emmaus